We could not be more grateful for our experience at Synapse Atelier. From the very first day, it has been clear that this is not just a childcare center, but a truly thoughtful, nurturing, and intentional learning environment rooted in the Reggio Emilia approach. What sets Synapse Atelier apart is the deep respect they have for each child as a capable, curious, and unique individual. The educators carefully observe, listen, and respond to the children's interests, allowing learning to unfold naturally through exploration, creativity, and hands-on experiences. Our son is constantly engaged in meaningful projects that encourage curiosity, problem-solving, and imagination rather than rote instruction. We have been especially impressed with how Synapse Atelier supports the development of executive function skills. Through play, collaboration, and guided reflection, our son has grown in his ability to focus, take turns, manage emotions, and persist through challenges. The teachers model patience and self-regulation beautifully, and these qualities are clearly reflected in the children. Equally remarkable has been his growth in social and verbal skills. The environment at Synapse Atelier fosters respectful communication, empathy, and teamwork, and we have seen him become more confident in expressing himself, sharing ideas, and interacting with peers. The educators create countless opportunities for conversation, storytelling, and cooperative play, which have significantly strengthened his language and social awareness. Above all, the warmth, care, and genuine dedication of the Synapse Atelier staff shine through every day. They truly know and love each child, and it shows in the joyful, secure, and vibrant atmosphere of the classroom. We feel incredibly fortunate to have found such a special place for our son and would wholeheartedly recommend Synapse Atelier to any family seeking a Reggio-inspired program that nurtures the whole child--intellectually, emotionally, socially, and creatively. read more

Our son has been attending Laila's school for almost a year, and during this time, we've had the pleasure of seeing him grow from a shy toddler to a loquacious, independent, and emotionally intelligent preschooler. Laila, Juanita, and Jasmin are all so caring, gentle, and supportive of the children, it is evident how attentive they are to each child's individual needs, and as such have built such a wonderful environment in which the children really thrive. It is a small and mighty community and we've made what we know will be lifelong friends. I have a one-year-old son as well and cannot wait to enroll him next year when he is of age. read more

Both my daughters have been going to Synapse and are thriving. Due to the small size of the school, each child is given an incredible amount of time and attention. They each get the chance to express themselves and their thoughts on different, interesting subjects on a daily basis. What has been very impressive to me is the respect and dignity with which the children are treated. They are all treated like individuals with valuable opinion in each subject. We also receive tons of pictures and videos daily which help us be more involved and aware of what the kids work on each day. We are fortunate to be able to have our kids thrive in such a loving and strong community. read more

We are so thankful to have found this place and even more thankful that our son was able to get in! Laila, Juanita and Jasmine are miracle workers. Our son has transformed in a way we couldn't have imagined. We were having difficulty with tantrums and stubbornness but after coming here our son is thriving. He is so happy! I have to give it up to these teachers for the amount of patience they have. The way they care for these kids is on another level that I did not see at any other preschool that we visited. I'll admit, it was hard for me to drop off my son at first but Laila sends videos and photos daily so we don't miss any moment of our kids being cute. I also have to add I was surprised to see one of the reviews say they are discriminatory here because it's actually very diverse. Laila has really created an amazing space for these kids. Most days my son doesn't even want to come home. Thank you for taking such amazing care of our kids ladies! I can not wait to have my daughter attend too. read more

She seems wonderful and her place is very clean and lovely. We fell in love with the whole concept but it felt more like a daycare than an educational background and that is okay but for a daycare it's out of this world ! read more

.While claiming to be an expert in early childhood education the director has instead created a toxic environment for children. The director shares personal information about children with other parents (not their own) and even shares gossip with outside visitors. The director has kicked three bipoc boys out of the school in the last eight months based on "anonymous complaints" by "parents".(No white children have been asked to leave during this time)). Bipoc boys also complain about being yelled at by the teacher. Because of this yelling our son started to have severe separation anxiety and would cry when he had to go to school. Not the progressive school we thought we were getting- in fact quite the opposite. read more

This is a special preschool! Laila and her Reggio teaching are just right for those seeking a play-based approach along with a loving and accepting community. Our child has been here since 18 months old in the toddler group, and, now more than two years later, we are so pleased with how he has learned and grown. They also learn letters and counting without noticing it by doing things like copying out each other's names. Laila encourages interaction among parents and plans events like mom nights. When we had a new baby she even organized a meal train to bring us dinner and had the kids at school create a few dishes for us which she sent home with my son. This wouldn't be possible at a bigger stressful preschool. read more

It has been an absolute joy and honor to have discovered Synapses for our daughter. Laila's invaluable assistance has profoundly impacted us, and we are eternally grateful. Having been a part of the last two summer programs while our child is already enrolled in school, Laila's approach and wisdom have played a pivotal role in fostering the social and emotional growth our child needed. We sought guidance particularly in the areas of play, emotional development, understanding the essence of community, and, most significantly, cultivating curiosity. Synapses provided a nurturing ground for emotional intelligence--and a sanctuary for our family. We hold deep admiration for every facet of the Synapses experience. Our heartfelt gratitude extends to Laila and the entire team for their exceptional efforts. Thank you for everything. read more

Laila and her team at Synapse Atelier have been wonderful, nurturing and passionate caregivers who treat both our children that we send there like part of their family. Our daughter has been going for 2 years and has matured and developed her sense of curiosity and creativity. Our son has just started toddler classes there and can't wait to start full time! read more

My child has had an amazing experience at Synapse. From the very beginning, he was nurtured and cared for in such a responsive and personal way by all of the teachers. If there was ever an issue, they would adapt to what he needed in that moment, and I've seen them do that with the other students as well. Laila has also been very supportive of me as a mother and of our family as a whole. Our child blossomed during his time at this special school, and we will miss it very much as he goes on to his next chapter. I wasn't aware of all the benefits of a Reggio education, but now am convinced this was the absolute best place for my child to be for preschool, especially coming out of COVID and his first couple of years at home. Highly recommend! read more

I cannot recommend Synapse Atelier enough. We enrolled our youngest child in Laila's toddler program at the beginning of 2021. The environment she created at Synapse sparks creativity, curiosity, and a sense of purpose. Laila and all of her teachers are so warm and welcoming and helped my son in such a kind and gentle way to overcome separation anxiety upon leaving. After starting the program he truly blossomed and has been thriving ever since. The whole team goes above and beyond to do what's best for the children because they truly care. My son had a terrible experience with receiving a covid test where a nurse went a bit too deep and was traumatized. My husband and I tried so hard to help him overcome this but had zero success until we asked for help from Laila and she worked her magic and now he's not afraid anymore. Laila goes above and beyond to help educate parents on ways to connect with our children on a deeper level, get curious, and listen to their ideas while giving them many ways to express themselves in a safe way. There is constant documentation of the children's progress thru videos, photos, portfolios, art projects, and written documentation that I appreciate and value so much. At school, I'm always impressed by how they co-explore with the children giving them the most amazing materials to bring their ideas to life. I feel truly blessed to know Laila and her team and be a part of this amazing diverse community. I have made life-long friends here and could not be happier. Synapse Altier is a hidden gem in bel air. read more

A beautiful, clean, safe, nurturing and wholesome home based preschool where toddlers will thrive with outdoor and indoor learning activities read more

Laila and her team are incredible. Our current 4yr old has been there for several years now, thriving, and cannot imagine him having been anywhere else. Given how small they keep the group in order to give the children the proper attention needed, we are so grateful we were given a spot. read more

Truly innovative approach to education. The owner has a combination of teaching skills and appreciation of art that comes through in their approach. Full of wonderful surprises. One of the best places for early childhood education in Los Angeles. read more

A once great school has completely fallen apart. If your child is gifted (is an early reader, advanced in math) do not send them here. Laila and Juanita do not know how best to serve precocious children. We were told to stop our son from reading books. The things he talks about - dinosaurs, math, outer space, and kings and queens throughout history was seen as a negative to her. She said he was just memorizing facts when in reality these are what he loves. She told him he was no longer allowed to talk about history. Other kids ran around obsessing about guns and fighter jets and bombs and bad guys, (they actually taught our boy about these things because he had never heard of them). Yet Juanita and Laila considered that normal. read more

My daughter has been attending Synapse Atelier for 3 years and has been absolutely thriving there! It is a smaller school which allows for a lot of personal attention and the experience that Laila and all of the other wonderful teachers really know my child. They show tremendous respect for the children and really offer an environment for them to follow their own thought process and engage in meaningful connections. We specifically wanted to find a Reggio school because we are huge believers in the philosophy and felt so lucky to find such a wonderful school in the neighborhood! Laila puts an unbelievable amount of care and thoughtfulness into every aspect of her school and it really shows. read more

Our son attended Synapse and it was the best school we could have chosen for him. We have 3 older boys and the preschool they attend had moved to Pasadena. We were left without a school. We found this school through a school friend. Our son had a one on one visit with Laila. We loved the attention she gave him and he took to her very well. We also felt right at home. With this Covid context, Laila helped him socialize well with his peers. He was an older child and she taught him how to be a good leader to the younger children. He enjoyed going to school everyday. He is now in first grade and we just had a conference with his teachers. She mentioned what a fine job he does helping out even when he was not the cause of the problem. This was something he learned from Laila. She is a master at her craft! I spent a lot of time at the school and i noticed how much love she puts into everything she does. She adjusts as need, some children need more attention with cleaning up, some children had an affinity to reading. Each child had her attention. Each family was honored as well. I came in one day and the kids were singing a song in Spanish. We are Latinos and when I looked into preschools, finding a diverse one was so important to us. This was the only school that was really diverse. We can not say enough good things about Laila or her program. It is amazing to work with someone that cares for your children as much as you do. She shares the work that she does with the children and why she is teaching it. She will help the children figure out how to problem solve on their own. As a parent, I don't always have the patience to do that but she does it multiple time in a day. She always has few teachers on hand so that every child has a proper amount of attention. Check it out, you will see why we loved it so much. read more

My daughter has been going to Synapse for the past year, and has grown remarkably at school under the guidance of Laila and her teachers. With Laila's loving attention and expert skillset, my daughter has become more expressive, confident, content and independent. Laila encourages children to generate and expand their own ideas without constraining or dictating any of the details. The children decide and guide their own learning. As parents, we have learned so much from Laila. Laila's methods are always thoughtful and rooted in the Reggio educational philosophy. We are very lucky to have our daughter in Synapse and be part of a thriving community. read more

I have had at least one of my kids with Laila and team for over 3 years now. It's a great learning environment for young kids, and they can't wait to get there each morning. The community of other kids and parents is also welcoming, unpretentious and wonderful too. read more

Our son had the amazing opportunity to attend Synapse Atelier with Laila. I still remember like it was yesterday, the Sunday morning we were invited to come in with our son and meet Laila. The moment we stepped foot into Synapse, we instantly had the feeling we wanted our son to attend. It was and still is a dreamy school. The perfect preschool you could want for your child, hidden and nestled in a quiet and lovely neighborhood with nature all around you; a safe heaven for young learners. Laila was so generous with her kind hospitality and gifting us with such a warm and unique intimate experience. Our son left very happy and excited to share with his older brothers how much fun he had at Synapse getting to know the tranquil and wonderful preschool. Due to Covid, we started our son mid way into spring, and so he was only able to attend from March to June. In those 3.5 months, our son was able to learn so much from Laila and put those skills into practice at home and we immediately saw a positive change and growth, from being a good leader, and taking initiative. Laila brought out in our son creativity he already had but only exponentiated that much more by learning to use all the materials in his surroundings. To this very day, our son takes every opportunity to discover and use any material at his fingertips and create artwork. In addition our son is a builder, and Laila also reinforced in our son to work together in group work and how to listen to other children's ideas that would only benefit them collectively. For example, our son loves magna tiles and in working together all the children would build using the magna tiles and add to the city building with their magna tiles and all the children would enjoy and feel belonging to the collective work. In doing so, the children could also problem solve how to create roads around a structure, or find a creative and meaningful way to make it all connect and work for everyone to have fun and learn together. We enjoyed to see how much music and culture Laila brought to the school and learn by play. There was always a lot of attention given to the children and Laila would always guide the children to understand and positively enforce all the skills the children would need to move through her Regio program. After the 3.5 months our son was able to attend during the normal school year, our son was also able to attend Laila's summer program. Laila always communicated with us and would let us know the skills our son was working on and his stretch areas. By the time, Laila's summer program concluded our son was ready for Kindergarten. During our parent teacher conference, our sons Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers would always mention "how our son was so mindful, kind, helpful, and a respectful presence in his classroom". We always made reference it was what our son had learned at Synapse Atelier with Laila. I cannot recommend Synapse Atelier enough! read more

Synapse Atelier's Seedling program and Laila's thoughtful guidance of my child has exceeded my every expectation. My daughter has opened up, grown, and truly thrived after only a few classes.  The isolating environment thrust upon us by Covid and quarantine had left her wary and unsure of how to communicate amongst her own peers. Under Laila's very patient guidance,  I witnessed the importance of teaching her how to form a connection with the objects and people of her interest. Subsequently, she is now both able communicate more effectively, and perform various tasks with an intention and focus that I would not have thought possible in a 19 month old. I was also able to observe the older class and was truly impressed with their thoughtfulness and independence. They prepared and shared their own snacks, conversed intelligently with each other, and were creative, engaged, and focused at their learning stations.  I find Laila's unique ability to understand and nurture each individual child invaluable. As a parent, I am grateful my child is learning skills that will help her in all of her future endeavors. read more

An incredible school!!! Our son is thriving at Synapse. There is attention to detail around his growth that I haven't seen at any other preschool in LA. Additionally, there is a great community of families and lasting friendships between the kids being created. read more

I am a former co-teacher of Laila and I find her teaching style to be very inspiring. She is very warm and attentive with children. She follows children's ideas diligently and works towards helping children collaborate. Synapse Atelier is an inspiring and serene environment that sparks children's imagination. read more

My daughter is truly heard at Synapse. Laila's understanding of children and Reggio education is exceptional and I have learned so much from her. My daughter is thriving in Laila's care. We get constant, thorough and insightful feedback in the form of videos, verbal reflections and photos. Everything Laila does is truly thoughtful and layered with intention. We can't say enough wonderful things about Laila and Synapse. She lifts the kids up and fosters their being themselves, each in their purest form. read more

I've known Laila, the owner, for many years. She truly cares about children and utilizes child-centric philosophies that empower the child and cultivate love and respect for the surroundings. She has helped my own parenting with my twins, and we still utilize her suggestions and coaching in our home. Highly recommend this preschool! 5 stars! read more